This study of the weekly parsha is dedicated
in the loving memory of Ms. Fredriqua Ann Brown, may she rest
in peace.

Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying, "Speak
to Aharon and to his sons, saying: 'This is how you shall bless
B'nei Yisroel, saying to them: May Hashem bless you and protect
you. May Hashem cause His countenance to shine upon you and favor
you. May Hashem lift His face to you, and grant you shalom.'
They shall bestow My Name upon B'nei Yisroel, and I will bless
them." Numbers 6:22-27

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It is a very good time to learn about how
each of us can be a blessing.

Rabbi Joshua B. Levi is quoted in the Talmud
as saying, "We give the cup of blessing for the recital
of the Grace after meals only to one who is of a generous disposition."
WHY? The one who is of a kind, generous disposition has a good
eye as in contrast to the one who is greedy and envious who has
an evil eye. Rabbi Joshua B. Levi continues, "As it is said:
'He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of
his bread to the poor.' Proverbs 22:9 Do not read yeborak {'shall
be blessed'} but {instead read} yebarek {'shall say the Benediction'}."
From this Talmudic explanation we learn a key ingredient of blessing,
"generosity". The one who is generous has the power
to bless.

Rabbi Joshua B. Levi states, "Whence
is it that even the birds recognize those who have a niggardly
spirit? {They are narrow of eye.} As it is said: For in vain
is the net spread in the eyes of any bird... So are the ways
of everyone that is greedy of gain. Proverbs 1:17,19

Holy readers, if one is of an improper spirit,
if one is of a miserly spirit, if one is NOT of generous disposition,
if one is greedy, envious, then that one is described as having
a bad eye or a narrow eye. Accepting hospitality from one like
this is a transgression. IT IS NOT A BLESSING! Shlomo HaMeleck,
King of Yisroel, son of Dovid HaMeleck, King of Yisroel wrote,
"Do not eat the bread of him that has an evil eye {the miserly},
and do not desire his delicacies." For as one who fantasizes
in his mind; so is he. Eat and drink, he will say to you, but
his heart is not with thee {his heart does not agree}. Proverbs
23:6

Now there are several points about blessings
and curses. Welcome and offer hospitality to a person of a kind
and generous disposition. DO NOT WELCOME the greedy, the envious
into your home. They carry / transmit curses, G-d forbid! DO
NOT ACCEPT THEIR BLESSING - IT IS A CURSE!

The Story of When A Blessing Becomes A
Curse!

There was a nice Jewish couple that were
the landlords over rental property. They rented to a family to
be: A mother, a daughter and a husband / step father to be. Later,
after problems developed with the tenants, the Jewish couple
commented that the lady tenant {who they later learned was quite
immoral} frequently said to them, "G-d Bless You!"
to which them said "Amen"... From the onset problems
developed. The Jewish couple was very disturbed! They did not
know what to do. They were of a kind and generous nature. They
were very good to this immoral tenant! Eventually, after seeking
the advice of their rabbi and an attorney, they began legal proceedings
against this tenant. Soon after, the tenant visited the Jewish
couple at their home. Being kind and naive, they invited this
evil eyed woman into their home. They opened the gate of safety
that guarded their home. They were hospitable. The following
month the tenant returned to their home desiring to pay the rent.
Again they, G-d forbid, opened the gate of safety that guarded
their home. She paid her rent. They were hospitable! The next
month she left the rent between the mezzuzah and the door. The
following month her uncle brought the rent. That was the last
rent payment that they received. Eventually she was evicted!
The house was cleaned and prepared for renting. An ad was placed
in the local newspaper and a "For Rent" sign placed
outside. Nothing happened. They lowered the price! Nothing happened!
They lowered the price again. Still nothing happened. They placed
the house on the market with a realty company. Nothing happened.
They lowered the price. Nothing happened! Eventually they learned
that they had transgressed by showing hospitality to this evil
eyed tenant. They renounced - they openly, verbally renounced
- all acts of hospitality to her, did shuvah and shortly thereafter
the house sold!

Holy reader, the effects of the evil eye are
recorded in the Midrash. The evil eye is like a negative supernatural
force opposing our goodness. The Midrash states that because
the Torah was given in public, the two tablets of the Law were
broken at the foot of Har Sinai under the forceful influence
of the evil eye. As a result, prior to the dedication of the
Mishkon, Hashem gave B'nei Yisroel their first blessing {through
the Kohanim} thereby nullifying the powerful effects of the evil
eye.

Holy reader, one must be very careful from
whom one receives a blessing and to whom one offers hospitality!
What may appear at first as a blessing could actually be a curse
in disguise, G-d forbid! The door of our home is a gate for our
protection and the protection of our loved ones! In the same
careful way that we should guard the entrance to our home we
should also guard the entrance to our eyes and ears. We do not
want the evil eye to violate and corrupt the blessings that Hashem
has prepared for us!

What we have referred to up until now is the
blessing of a person with a kind, generous disposition. Yet this
week's parsha speaks directly of Hashem's intended blessing which
is pronounced upon B'nei Yisroel by the Kohanim.

The word Vi Saw Moo occurs only a few times
in Torah and in the Prophets. Here in Numbers 6:27 it means "And
they shall bestow {My Name upon B'nei Yisroel}." In Numbers
4:6,8,11 and 14 Vi Saw Moo refers to placing the carrying poles
in their proper place, in their exact place, which appears to
be through the tachash hide. In Numbers 4:19, the reference to
Vi Saw Moo is regarding each individual man who will take a place
specifically appointed by the sons of Aharon after the Aron Ha
Kodesh was prepared for moving. From these unique expressions
of Vi Saw Moo in the Torah we learn the great importance of exactness,
precision and the perfect fit. Vi Saw Moo expresses the ideal
of an exact fit, an exact place in such detail regarding where
an object, person or in this instance Hashem's Name was to be
placed.

Being out of place for the Kehosites {who
moved the Aron Ha Kodesh} would mean certain death. This is emphasized
by the warning "Hashem spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying,
'Do not cut off of the tribe of the families of the Kehosites
from among the Levites. This is what you must do for them, that
they may live and not die when they approach the Holy of Holies;
Aharon and his sons shall {first} come {into the Holy of Holies
and prepare for moving} and {afterward} appoint them {the Kehosites}
each man individually, to {perform} his own service, and to carry
his own load. They shall not come in to see when the Holy is
being covered and {they will not} die.'" Numbers 4:17-20

Now when one understands the absolute exactness
of Vi Saw Moo, placing Hashem's Name upon B'nei Yisroel, then
one can begin to understand the required precision of the priestly
blessing spoken by the Kohanim in behalf of B'nei Yisroel. To
grasp this concept is so important.

First, the priestly blessing was introduced
after the crushing of the two tablets of the Law given to Moshe
on Har Sinai. The priestly blessing was given after the sin of
the molten calf. We experienced separation from Hashem's presence
due to our sins. Dear reader, the point here is that even though
we sin Hashem has addressed our sins through the priestly blessing.
It is through the priestly blessing that Hashem's Name is placed
upon us. In other words, Hashem has covered our sins. Hashem
has made our sins unviewable through the priestly blessing.

Second, Hashem introduced the priestly blessing
prior to Moshe erecting the Mishkon. This means that Hashem did
not want our sins standing as a wall, as a barrier between Hashem
our Creator and us, Kal Yisroel. Therefore Hashem gave the priestly
blessing to insure that nothing would stand in the way between
Hashem and us when the Mishkon was erected!

Third, there were NO PRECONDITIONS for the
priestly blessing other than being B'nei Yisroel. The priestly
blessing is absolute and unconditional.

Fourth, in addition to covering our sins the
priestly blessing brings ONLY benefit to B'nei Yisroel.

Dear holy reader, every Jew is attached to
this powerful and wonderful life-changing blessing. Kohanim outside
of Yisroel pronounce the priestly blessing only during the High
Holidays. In Yisroel the Kohanim pronounce the priestly blessing
in our behalf each day. It is reassuring to know that Hashem
wants us to receive and experience His blessings always.

Wishing you the best,

Dr. Akiva G. Belk

Weekly Studies

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